Systems and methods for collecting medical images

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for collecting a plurality of medical images. According to one embodiment, a system may include an image acquisition unit to acquire image data, a processing unit to process the image data, a workflow unit to receive a selection of a primary workflow, and an insertion unit to suspend the workflow system. The insertion unit may receive a second selection of a secondary workflow. Upon the completion of the collection of the second plurality of medical images, the workflow unit may resume the collection of the first plurality of medical images. According to certain embodiments, the primary workflow or the secondary workflow may specify an order for collecting a primary and secondary plurality of medical images. Annotations may be added to the plurality of images based on the primary workflow and/or the secondary workflow.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for collecting a plurality of medical images, comprising:
 an image acquisition device to acquire image data; 
 a processing unit communicatively coupled with the image acquisition device to process the image data; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
 receive a first selection of a primary workflow corresponding to a first plurality of medical images for a first type of medical examination, wherein the primary workflow defines a first sequence for the first plurality of medical images, and wherein the primary workflow defines image acquisition settings for the first plurality of medical images; 
 collect, using the image acquisition device, one or more images corresponding to the first plurality of medical images; 
 suspend the primary workflow in response to a secondary workflow command invoked by a user during the primary workflow and in response to collecting the one or more images corresponding to the first plurality of medical images; 
 present, in response to the secondary workflow command, a plurality of secondary workflows associated with the primary workflow for selection by the user; 
 receive a second selection of a secondary workflow of the plurality of secondary workflows from the user, the secondary workflow corresponding to a second plurality of medical images for a second type of medical examination different from the first type of medical examination, wherein the secondary workflow defines an image sequence for the second plurality of medical images, and wherein the secondary workflow defines image acquisition settings for the second plurality of medical images; 
 collect, using the image acquisition device, the second plurality of medical images; and 
 in response to completion of the collection of the second plurality of medical images, resume the collection of the first plurality of medical images. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device comprises an ultrasound system. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary workflow defines a label identifying a corresponding view or body region for each of the first plurality of medical images and the secondary workflow defines a label identifying a corresponding view or body region for each of the second plurality of medical images, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to annotate the first plurality of medical images based on the primary workflow and to annotate the second plurality of medical images based on the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to annotate each of the second plurality of medical images using at least a portion of an annotation associated with an image from the first plurality of medical images, wherein the image from the first plurality of medical images is acquired immediately prior to receiving the selection of the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to identify at least one of the first plurality of medical images having an associated measurement and to obtain the measurement. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled with the processing unit to display context sensitive information regarding at least one of the plurality of medical images. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the context sensitive information comprises an indication describing one of the first plurality of images. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the context sensitive information comprises a prompt to obtain a measurement based on one of the primary workflow and the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the context sensitive information comprises a list of a plurality of secondary workflows. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary workflow defines an image acquisition mode for each of the first plurality of medical images and the secondary workflow defines an image acquisition mode for each of the second plurality of medical images, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to automatically control the image acquisition device to operate according to the acquisition mode for a corresponding image based on one or more of the primary work flow and the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that cause the processing unit to, in response to completion of the collection of the first plurality of medical images, arrange the first plurality of medical images according to the first sequence defined by the primary workflow for review by a medical professional, and arrange the second plurality of medical images according to the second sequence defined by the secondary workflow for review by a medical professional. 
     
     
       12. A method for collecting a plurality of medical images, comprising:
 receiving a first selection of a primary workflow corresponding to a first plurality of medical images for a first type of medical examination, wherein the primary workflow defines a first sequence for the first plurality of medical images, and wherein the primary workflow defines image acquisition settings for the first plurality of medical images; 
 collecting, using an image acquisition device, at least one of the first plurality of medical images; 
 receiving a secondary workflow command during the primary workflow; 
 suspending the primary workflow in response to receiving the secondary workflow command and in response to collecting the at least one of the first plurality of medical images; 
 in response to receiving the secondary workflow command, presenting a plurality of secondary workflows associated with the primary workflow for selection by a user; 
 receiving a second selection of a secondary workflow of the plurality of secondary workflows from the user, the secondary workflow corresponding to a second plurality of medical images for a second type of medical examination different from the first type of medical examination, wherein the secondary workflow defines an image sequence for the second plurality of medical images, and wherein the secondary workflow defines image acquisition settings for the second plurality of medical images; 
 collecting, using the image acquisition device, the second plurality of medical images; and 
 in response to completion of the collection of the second plurality of medical images, resuming the collection of the first plurality of medical images. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising collecting the first plurality of images according to the sequence specified by the primary workflow. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising collecting the second plurality of images according to the sequence specified by the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising annotating the first plurality of medical images without user intervention based on the primary workflow and annotating the second plurality of medical images without user intervention based on the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising annotating each of the second plurality of medical images using at least a portion of an annotation associated with an image from the first plurality of medical images, wherein the image from the first plurality of medical images is acquired immediately prior to receiving the selection of the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 identifying at least one of the first plurality of medical images having an associated measurement; and 
 obtaining the measurement. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising selecting a measurement instrument without user intervention for obtaining the measurement. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising displaying context sensitive information regarding at least one of the plurality of medical images. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the context sensitive information comprises an indication describing one of the first plurality of images. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the context sensitive information comprises a prompt to obtain a measurement based on one of the primary workflow and the secondary workflow. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the context sensitive information comprises a list of a plurality of secondary workflows. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises, in response to completion of the collection of the first plurality of medical images, arranging the first plurality of medical images according to the first sequence defined by the primary workflow for review by a medical professional, and arranging the second plurality of medical images according to the second sequence defined by the secondary workflow for review by a medical professional. 
     
     
       24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, are configured to cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a first selection of a primary workflow corresponding to a first plurality of medical images for a first type of medical examination, wherein the primary workflow defines a first sequence for the first plurality of medical images, and wherein the primary workflow defines imaging settings for the first plurality of medical images; 
 collecting, using the image acquisition device, at least one of the first plurality of medical images; 
 receiving a secondary workflow command from a user after collecting the at least one of the first plurality of medical images; 
 suspending the primary workflow in response to receiving the secondary workflow command and in response to collecting the one or more images corresponding to the first plurality of medical images; 
 presenting, in response to the secondary workflow command, a plurality of secondary workflows associated with the primary workflow for selection by a user; 
 receiving a second selection of a second workflow of the plurality of secondary workflows from the user, the secondary workflow corresponding to a second plurality of medical images for a second type of medical examination different from the first type of medical examination, wherein the secondary workflow defines an image sequence for the second plurality of medical images, and wherein the secondary workflow defines imaging settings for the second plurality of medical images; 
 in response to completion of the collection of the second plurality of medical images, collecting the second plurality of medical images; and 
 resuming the collection of the first plurality of medical images.